Piety Hill Musings

The ramblings of the Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of Detroit. Piety Hill refers to the old name for our neighborhood. The neighborhood has changed a great deal in the over 160 years we have been on this corner (but not our traditional biblical theology) and it is now known for the neighboring theatres, the professional baseball and football stadiums and new hockey/basketball arena.

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Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Maundy Thursday

We begin this evening with the celebration of the Holy Communion with 3 special meanings.
First, it is where the Maundy, the anglicized version of the Latin Mandatum - is given, that new Commandment that we love one another as Jesus loves us. This is symbolized in the liturgy by The Rector washing the feet of the parishioners, in obedience to our Blessed Lord’s command to his Apostles (John 13:14-15).
Secondly, it is the this evening at the Apostle’s commemoration of the Passover Meal that Jesus institutes the Sacrament of the Holy Communion. Therefore the priest wears white vestments and we sing with gusto this evening since it is a High Feast.
Related to this, thirdly, it is also the night that our Lord institutes the Sacred Priesthood to the Apostles to carry on His sacramental ministry.
After the glory of the Liturgy, in commemoration of Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane after Supper, and the abandonment by the Apostles, we strip the Sanctuary and Altar bare as we solemnly recite Psalm 22.
My God, My God, why hast thou abandoned me…..
In about an hour we go from joyous celebration for the Mandatum, Communion, and Priesthood, to shock and horror at our Lord’s betrayal, arrest, and impending crucifixion!